CHARLESTON, S.C. – In a match rescheduled due to Hurricane Irma, the Charlotte Independence visit MUSC Health Stadium on Wednesday night to take on the Charleston Battery knowing a win or draw in the Southern Derby could clinch their place in the USL Cup Playoffs. The Battery could get very close to a playoff place themselves with a win giving them the possibility of clinching when they play Orlando City B on Saturday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. ET.
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Charleston Battery news and notes
Current record: 12-7-8, 44pts
The Battery come into this match following a 1-0 victory against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday at MUSC Health Stadium.
Despite losing Romario Williams to a red card in the 37th minute, the Battery still managed to come away with the win as second-half substitute Heviel Cordoves scored the only goal of the game with six minutes to go.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Charleston still created more opportunities managing seven shots on target, compared to just one from the Kickers.
Charleston will be without Williams on Wednesday night as he serves a one-game suspension for his red card against Richmond. Williams' suspension was originally three games, but following a League review was reduced.
Charlotte Independence news and notes
Current record: 13-5-9, 48pts
The Independence missed out on a chance to clinch a place in the playoffs on Saturday night, and had to rally to earn a dramatic 1-1 draw against Ottawa Fury FC at the Sportsplex at Matthews.
Ottawa opened the scoring in the 11th minute as Jamar Dixon headed in, but Charlotte equalized in the 89th minute through Lewis Hilton's fourth goal of the season.
With 51 goals this season the Independence are the highest-scoring offense in the USL Eastern Conference, sitting nine back of overall leader Reno 1868 FC.
The Independence's Enzo Martinez (16 goals) and Jorge Herrera (12 goals) are the first players in the club's history to notch double-digit goals in a single season.
Series Notes
Squads
Charleston – GK: Alex Tambakis, Odisnel Cooper, Joe Kuzminski, Alec Kann; D: Forrest Lasso, Taylor Mueller, Skylar Thomas, O’Brian Woodbine, Quinton Griffith, Mikey Ambrose, Miles Robinson; M: Laurent Kissiedou, Jarad van Schaik, Neveal Hackshaw, Ataulla Guerra, Lagos Kunga, Justin Portillo, Maikel Chang, Tah Brian Anunga, Kotaro Higashi, Ryan Arambula; F: Patrick Okonkwo, Heviel Cordoves, Ricky Garbanzo, Nico Rittmeyer, Jeffrey Otoo
Charlotte – GK: Cody Mizell, Kainoa Likewise, Kyle Renfro; D: Dennis Castillo, Austin Yearwood, Bilal Duckett, Sam Vines, Joel Johnson, Henry Kalungi, Luke Waechter, Ashani Fairclough, Donnie Smith; M: Zev Taublieb, Callum Ross, Jun Marques Davidson, Yann Ekra, David Estrada, Lewis Hilton, Dennis Tchinde, David Spies; F: Casey Townsend, Jorge Herrera, Jaime Siaj, Enzo Martinez, Caleb Calvert, Jacob Bender
Discipline
Charleston – Suspended: Romario Williams; Accumulation warning: Taylor Mueller, Forrest Lasso
Charlotte – Suspended: Alex Martinez; Accumulation warning: Donald Smith
Officials
REF: DALLAS ROSIER
AR1: Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein
AR2: Miriama Kocisova
4TH: James Felluca
Game hashtag:
Twitter social handles
Charleston Battery – @Chas_Battery
Charlotte Independence – @CLTIndependence
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